Even though it may not be a tourist destination, we are enjoying living in Wanganui. It is a lovely town of 40,000 people located on the western coast of the North Island 3 hours north of the capital city of Wellington (which is at the southern tip). Our rental house backs up to the Wanganui River and is centrally located to work, schools and the downtown area. The weather was chilly when we arrived (40's) and we struggled a bit with the whole lack of central heating (Jen went right out and bought a used down coat) but now that it is summer, it is quite temperate (60-70's and sunny).
Jen can't believe 4 months have already passed since arriving in NZ! Her highlights include:
-living in a small town where everyone knows each other (and is often related to each other as well)!
-waking up every morning to the beautiful view of Whanganui River out the back window
-taking care of complex and interesting medical patients (vs. her job in the states where she increasingly felt like either a triage doctor or a chronic pain doctor). And no EMR here is a bonus!
-spotting the elusive kiwi bird while walking as quietly as possible through a pitch dark forest
-spending time relaxing with the family, traveling around NZ, and playing golf with Pete
-experiencing the laid-back and friendly Kiwi attitude. People just don't get worked up about things. "Oh no doctor, I don't want that! I'm much too old for goodness sake. I wouldn't want to be a bother!" is a typical response when Jen asks patients if they would ever want to be put on life support.
Wanganui Hospital
Pete loves the low key lifestyle here and is doing his best to blend in. Highlights include:- spending maybe 20 minutes a day total in the car, 30 on a busy day. everything is within a ten minute drive, ten and a half if there are three cars at the roundabout at "rush hour".
- fishing for kahawai at this crazy scene on the Whanganui River Mole. At low tide, anglers compete for space amidst the rocks and crumbling pier and then whoop and holler as they try to bring this awesome fighting salmon-type fish up onto terra firma.
- playing in the weekly foursome group on Friday at Wanganui Golf Course - equal parts competition, comradeship, tradition, and typical Kiwi laid-back casualness.
- playing the part of travel agent and driver extra-ordinairre - in Oct we did a two week trip around the North Island and we just returned from a 3 week trip with both of our parents around both islands.
- walking or playing golf with Jen and playing family games most every night with Jen and the kids
at Franz Josef Glacier, Jan 2016
Lindsay's 2015 highlights:- biking to school everyday (except when it's raining, and still doing it anyway)
- going barefoot and getting to climb trees at lunch and tea time at school (although this gives her parents nightmares about how dirty her feet are)
- playing proper "football" for New Zealand talent center and going undefeated with her U11 team
- running at the citywide track/field . The first heat of the 300 meter dash was classic - she won the heat by about 40 meters, bursting over the tape, only to learn that you just have to finish in the top 4 to qualify for the semi-finals. Slightly embarrassed, our determined and ahh, slightly competitive child went on to win that event as well as the 80 meters
- making new friends especially ones that have pets since she no longer has a dog
- getting to see the hobbit holes at Hobbiton (no real live hobbits spotted however)
- using Google hangout so that her NZ class could talk to her Colorado classmates
Lauryn's 2015 highlights (and a couple of ironic sad moments within):
- qualifying for the state championships for nordic ski racing in both disciplines (!) but then being unable to get across Loveland Pass to actually compete in the Classic style race due to a blizzard : (
- playing on the varsity soccer team at Evergreen HS - the team was the top seed in the state tournament (!) but lost in the quarterfinals
- making the NZ regional "football" team for the central district...(all good here)
- Adventure racing at the national championship for NZ and kayaking in the bay off beautiful Great Barrier Island, but their raft flipped, emptying everyone into the ocean and giving her hypothermia
- "having the easiest school year since fifth grade, no, maybe fourth"...but having to wear a very proper school uniform all the same. (her parents like the uniform very much)
Kendra's 2015 highlights:
- playing the role of Mrs Rose and being in the ensemble of Hello Dolly!
- graduating from Lakewood HS and receiving her IB diploma!
- gaining admission to Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, but then taking a gap year...
- trying to figure out what someone is ordering when they speak in Kiwi slang/mumble at her new job at Cafe Mint, a cool coffee shop and restaurant downtown.
- making friends by bringing guacamole to a youth group event for Faith City Church. Her friends thought she had brought the greatest dip of all time.
- fulfilling her inner nerd's greatest dream and visiting Hobbiton, and then getting an actual leaf off the tree that stands above Bag End.
The girls, near Arthur's Pass
Moraki Boulders
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